Selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant," Martin Scorsese's landmark 1973 film—the first he wrote and directed—superbly depicts the streets of New York City's Little Italy neighborhood, where Scorsese grew up. Robert De Niro, in a breakout role that earned him a Best Supporting Actor Award from the National Society of Film Critics, plays Johnny Boy, a reckless loner who borrows money from the mob but doesn't pay it back. Harvey Keitel plays Charlie, a conflicted Catholic who is also trying to work his way up in the mob and looks out for Johnny Boy like an older brother.This Special Edition DVD contains commentary from Scorsese and a featurette about the director's career.

"In countless ways, right down to the detail of modern TV crime shows, Mean Streets is one of the source points of modern movies."—Roger Ebert